Prince William makes unprecedented move in country where King Charles won't set foot

The King has never visited mainland China because of his view on the nation's human rights record.

However, Prince William is said to believe he "can’t exclude a big chunk of the planet when thinking about fighting for its future".

The royal discussed his plans for hosting in China with the President and Prime Minister of Singapore.

The Prince of Wales hailed Singapore as a fantastic host for his 2023 awards during a speech last week.

He said: said: "We express our deepest gratitude to Singapore for hosting our third Earthshot Prize ceremony.

"Few places demonstrate so well how the natural and urban worlds can co-exist.

"A great city leveraging technology and innovation to help repair and regenerate our planet."

The Prince of Wales believes progress in the continent of Asia is crucial to his sustainability goals, according to a royal insider.

A source told the Times: "Prince William believes that when it comes to the climate and the environment, Asia is critical.

"He’s of the view you can’t exclude a big chunk of the planet when thinking about fighting for its future.

"To fast-forward the change and impact he wants, he knows he has to engage with China and India — two of the world’s biggest economies and biggest emitters of carbon dioxide.

"This is not him commenting on government policy.

"This is about his approach to the environment and ability to create real global change.

"It is him thinking, ‘Where can I deliver impact and change not just here but around the world?’ That is his longer-term view."